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Showing posts with label Ghana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ghana. Show all posts
Monday, July 5, 2010
Asamoah Gyan penalty fails, Ghana Failed to semifinal after defeated by Uruguay with penalty shoot-out
1:46 PM
Ghana seemed certain to become the first African side to reach the last four of the competition when Luis Suarez saw red after handling on the line in the dying seconds of extra-time.
However, striker Asamoah Gyan, who had already converted two penalties in South Africa, skimmed the crossbar with the last kick of the game.
Gyan showed incredible guts to take the first spot-kick of the shoot-out but John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah both had their low strikes saved by Fernando Muslera.
However, striker Asamoah Gyan, who had already converted two penalties in South Africa, skimmed the crossbar with the last kick of the game.
Gyan showed incredible guts to take the first spot-kick of the shoot-out but John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah both had their low strikes saved by Fernando Muslera.
And Sebsatian Abreu then showed ice-cold composure to dink the decisive penalty beyond Richard Kingson as Uruguay sealed a semi-final tie against the Netherlands.
Suarez's deliberate handball, which came seconds after he had legitimately blocked one goal-bound effort with his knee, was a gamble that paid handsome dividends.
It was a truly remarkable final few minutes, surely some of the most dramatic in World Cup history, and came at the end of an engrossing and occasionally bad-tempered contest.
Both teams enjoyed periods in the ascendancy - and both were guilty of wasting numerous opportunities.
Sulley Muntari, almost kicked out of the squad after criticising coach Milovan Rajevac earlier in the competition, struck a long-range opener on the stroke of half-time, while the impressive Diego Forlan equalised with a free-kick 10 minutes after the restart.
La Celeste controlled the early part of the contest and their early endeavours twice brought them close to scoring but each time they were denied by Kingson.
The first was a reaction save after John Mensah inadvertently deflected a corner towards his own goal and the second an athletic finger-tip effort to deny Suarez, who will be suspended for the semi-final, after the striker capitalised on a slip by Isaac Vorsah.
But the South American side, already without injured defender Diego Godin, lost skipper Diego Lugano to injury towards the end of the first half, his withdrawal coming at a time when the Black Stars had started to find a foothold in the match.
Rajevac's side had offered almost nothing in attack until Vorsah, recalled in defence in place of the suspended Jonathan Mensah, headed wide from a corner just before the half-hour mark.
Gyan then narrowly missed after the industrious Kevin-Prince Boateng picked him out in front of the deep-sitting Uruguay defence with a square ball, while Mutari headed wide after latching on to a raking pass.
Even so, it looked as though the match would be goalless at the break until Muntari, gifted the time to assess his options, unleashed a vicious 40-yard strike that caught Muslera off guard.
Uruguay brought on Nicolas Lodeiro at the break and the game quickly became stretched as Tabarez's team searched for an equaliser.
Edinson Cavani felt he should have been awarded a penalty after he went down under a challenge from Vorsah, but there was no doubt about Forlan's free-kick from a wide angle that drew his team level.
Ghana had repeated opportunities to strike on the counter, but they wasted a series of excellent positions with poor pass selection, while Gyan tangled repeatedly with several different members of the Uruguay defence.
Uruguay created two good chances for Suarez but he could only guide a cross from Forlan into the side-netting at the far post and drill in a strike that Kingson palmed over.
Andres Scotti blocked a shot from Gyan in the first half of extra-time and, minutes before the shoot-out, almost kicked the ball into his own net as he tried to clear it away from the dangerous Ghana striker.
The Black Stars were dominant in the closing minutes of extra-time as their opponents visibly tired and, after Suarez legally denied Steven Appiah and then Adiyiah - illegally - the match took its dramatic final twist.
Suarez's deliberate handball, which came seconds after he had legitimately blocked one goal-bound effort with his knee, was a gamble that paid handsome dividends.
It was a truly remarkable final few minutes, surely some of the most dramatic in World Cup history, and came at the end of an engrossing and occasionally bad-tempered contest.
Both teams enjoyed periods in the ascendancy - and both were guilty of wasting numerous opportunities.
Sulley Muntari, almost kicked out of the squad after criticising coach Milovan Rajevac earlier in the competition, struck a long-range opener on the stroke of half-time, while the impressive Diego Forlan equalised with a free-kick 10 minutes after the restart.
La Celeste controlled the early part of the contest and their early endeavours twice brought them close to scoring but each time they were denied by Kingson.
The first was a reaction save after John Mensah inadvertently deflected a corner towards his own goal and the second an athletic finger-tip effort to deny Suarez, who will be suspended for the semi-final, after the striker capitalised on a slip by Isaac Vorsah.
But the South American side, already without injured defender Diego Godin, lost skipper Diego Lugano to injury towards the end of the first half, his withdrawal coming at a time when the Black Stars had started to find a foothold in the match.
Rajevac's side had offered almost nothing in attack until Vorsah, recalled in defence in place of the suspended Jonathan Mensah, headed wide from a corner just before the half-hour mark.
Gyan then narrowly missed after the industrious Kevin-Prince Boateng picked him out in front of the deep-sitting Uruguay defence with a square ball, while Mutari headed wide after latching on to a raking pass.
Even so, it looked as though the match would be goalless at the break until Muntari, gifted the time to assess his options, unleashed a vicious 40-yard strike that caught Muslera off guard.
Uruguay brought on Nicolas Lodeiro at the break and the game quickly became stretched as Tabarez's team searched for an equaliser.
Edinson Cavani felt he should have been awarded a penalty after he went down under a challenge from Vorsah, but there was no doubt about Forlan's free-kick from a wide angle that drew his team level.
Ghana had repeated opportunities to strike on the counter, but they wasted a series of excellent positions with poor pass selection, while Gyan tangled repeatedly with several different members of the Uruguay defence.
Uruguay created two good chances for Suarez but he could only guide a cross from Forlan into the side-netting at the far post and drill in a strike that Kingson palmed over.
The Black Stars were dominant in the closing minutes of extra-time as their opponents visibly tired and, after Suarez legally denied Steven Appiah and then Adiyiah - illegally - the match took its dramatic final twist.
Uruguay
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1-1 |
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FT |
| Forlan, 55 | (HT 0-1) Uruguay win 4-2 on penalties |
Muntari, 45+2 | |
Team |
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Uruguay
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Ghana
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| Substitutes:
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Ghana
(19 Scotti, 38)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Asamoah Gyan scorer on Extra time
7:21 PM
The Black Stars, the only remaining African team in the tournament, have emulated Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002, and will play Uruguay at Soccer City on 2 July.
Ghana, who defeated the USA 2-1 in a crucial group match at the 2006 World Cup, appeared to have the measure of Bob Bradley's team after Kevin-Prince Boateng gave them an early lead in Rustenburg with a low strike.
Ghana, who defeated the USA 2-1 in a crucial group match at the 2006 World Cup, appeared to have the measure of Bob Bradley's team after Kevin-Prince Boateng gave them an early lead in Rustenburg with a low strike.
But the Americans came back strongly after the break and equalised through a Landon Donovan penalty.
They seemed the most likely winners of a contest that had seen Ghana lose the drive and purpose that characterised their first-half play.
Ghana had not scored twice in a match in 2010 and both their previous goals in South Africa had come from the penalty spot, but they were the superior team in extra-time and survived some nervous final moments to seal a famous win.
Milovan Rajevac's team, playing a 4-2-3-1 system and showing incredible strength and desire, dominated the opening half to the extent that US midfielder Ricardo Clark was substituted after just 30 minutes.
The Black Stars goal after five minutes was partly the fault of the unfortunate Clark, who had his pocket picked by Boateng deep in his own half.
The Portsmouth midfielder, who made several telling runs from deep positions before fading after the break, closed in on goal before delivering a low left-foot strike from 18 yards that Tim Howard might feel he ought to have saved.
The US, who won their group, continued to create problems of their own making, with Jay DeMerit allowing a long kick downfield from Richard Kingson to reach Kwadwo Asamoah, whose low strike was brilliantly saved by Howard.
Former US president Bill Clinton watched from the stands as Ghana, sporting a distinct red and yellow striped strip, smothered their opposition, who struggled to retain possession.
But Michael Bradley did get in behind once during the opening half, while a mistake by the uncertain Jonathan Mensah resulted in Clint Dempsey playing in Robbie Findlay, but the striker's shot was well saved.
Coach Bradley had been decisive in his withdrawal of Clark and replaced striker Findley with midfield Benny Feilhaber at the break, pushing Dempsey into a more advanced position.
It was a decision that almost paid instant dividends when the substitute was played through, but a heavy first touch allowed Kingson to advance from his goal and block Feilhaber's subsequent shot.
Donovan's equaliser from the spot went in off the post after Jonathan Mensah ended Dempsey's surging run into the box with a late and clumsy challenge.
Ghana had gone completely off the boil and might have fallen behind when a ball over the top caught out their high line of defence but Kingson, who had an excellent game, was again quickly off his line to deny Jozy Altidore and, later, a low strike from Bradley.
Altidore tussled with John Mensah as Ghana struggled to deal with a long ball - and despite going to ground the US striker almost scored with a low strike.
The Americans profligacy was punished in the third minute of extra-time when Gyan showed strength and composure to control a long ball forward with his chest and bury his strike from a wide angle despite the close proximity of two defenders.
They seemed the most likely winners of a contest that had seen Ghana lose the drive and purpose that characterised their first-half play.
Ghana had not scored twice in a match in 2010 and both their previous goals in South Africa had come from the penalty spot, but they were the superior team in extra-time and survived some nervous final moments to seal a famous win.
Milovan Rajevac's team, playing a 4-2-3-1 system and showing incredible strength and desire, dominated the opening half to the extent that US midfielder Ricardo Clark was substituted after just 30 minutes.
The Black Stars goal after five minutes was partly the fault of the unfortunate Clark, who had his pocket picked by Boateng deep in his own half.
The Portsmouth midfielder, who made several telling runs from deep positions before fading after the break, closed in on goal before delivering a low left-foot strike from 18 yards that Tim Howard might feel he ought to have saved.
The US, who won their group, continued to create problems of their own making, with Jay DeMerit allowing a long kick downfield from Richard Kingson to reach Kwadwo Asamoah, whose low strike was brilliantly saved by Howard.
Former US president Bill Clinton watched from the stands as Ghana, sporting a distinct red and yellow striped strip, smothered their opposition, who struggled to retain possession.
But Michael Bradley did get in behind once during the opening half, while a mistake by the uncertain Jonathan Mensah resulted in Clint Dempsey playing in Robbie Findlay, but the striker's shot was well saved.
Coach Bradley had been decisive in his withdrawal of Clark and replaced striker Findley with midfield Benny Feilhaber at the break, pushing Dempsey into a more advanced position.
It was a decision that almost paid instant dividends when the substitute was played through, but a heavy first touch allowed Kingson to advance from his goal and block Feilhaber's subsequent shot.
Donovan's equaliser from the spot went in off the post after Jonathan Mensah ended Dempsey's surging run into the box with a late and clumsy challenge.
Ghana had gone completely off the boil and might have fallen behind when a ball over the top caught out their high line of defence but Kingson, who had an excellent game, was again quickly off his line to deny Jozy Altidore and, later, a low strike from Bradley.
Altidore tussled with John Mensah as Ghana struggled to deal with a long ball - and despite going to ground the US striker almost scored with a low strike.
The Americans profligacy was punished in the third minute of extra-time when Gyan showed strength and composure to control a long ball forward with his chest and bury his strike from a wide angle despite the close proximity of two defenders.
USA
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1-2 (aet) |
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FT |
| Donovan (pen), 62 | (HT 0-1) After Extra Time |
Boateng, 5 Gyan, 93 |
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Team |
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USA
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Ghana
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| Substitutes:
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Mesut Ozil single goal, Germany Pass
3:10 PM
Ozil settled an entertaining affair in the second half with a wonderful, dipping volley from outside the box to ensure it would be the Germans who face Fabio Capello's men in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
In a game that swung from end-to-end, at breakneck speed at times, Ghana wasted some fine chances, but the African side go through as group runners-up, thanks to Australia's surprise victory over Serbia, and they will now face USA in Rustenburg on Saturday.
In a game that swung from end-to-end, at breakneck speed at times, Ghana wasted some fine chances, but the African side go through as group runners-up, thanks to Australia's surprise victory over Serbia, and they will now face USA in Rustenburg on Saturday.
Going into the game Ghana only needed a point to be sure of progressing, but they came up against a German team desperate to put their shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Serbia in their last match behind them.
Knowing a win would set up a clash with old rivals England, Germany played with great tempo and after Cacau shot at Richard Kingson, Lucas Podolski went close with a deflected volley that flew narrowly wide of the target.
But Ghana weathered the early storm and eventually asserted their own style on proceedings. They were content to let Germany have a lot of the ball and hit them on the break when they won it back and their pace soon began to cause problems.
Asamoah Gyan should have done better with a shot that was superbly blocked by the tireless Bastain Schweinsteiger before Kevin-Prince Boateng played in Gyan, only for the striker's touch to let him down at the crucial moment.
After Ozil rolled a tame shot at Kingson from the right-hand side of the Ghana box it was the Africans who twice went close again when Gyan's goal-bound header from a corner was cleared off the line by Philipp Lahm and then Boateng glanced across the face of goal from Andre Ayew's centre.
Germany knew raced out of the blocks after the interval, aware that Serbia and Australia were goalless at the break and a Serbia goal could send Germany out.
After Asamoah spurned a rare Ghana break into the Germany half by shooting at Manuel Neuer, Ozil produced his match-winning moment.
The gifted playmaker had endured a frustrating evening up to that point, but when the ball fell to him just outside the penalty area, he set himself up and then crashed a glorious left-footed effort past Kingson's fruitless dive.
Now Ghana had most to lose and they tried to hit back immediately as Prince Tagoe's goalbound header at the far post drew a superb block from Jerome Boateng - the German defender who was playing against his brother, Kevin, in a first for the World Cup.
Ghana continued to press and Gyan's backheel exquisitely set up Ayew only for Lahm to get in a last-ditch goal-saving challenge, and Germany eased through the closing stages without looking unduly troubled.
Even after the final whistle blew, there were some nervous moments for Ghana as they waited for the result from Nelspruit, but in the end they had done enough to secure Africa's first place in the next round.
Knowing a win would set up a clash with old rivals England, Germany played with great tempo and after Cacau shot at Richard Kingson, Lucas Podolski went close with a deflected volley that flew narrowly wide of the target.
But Ghana weathered the early storm and eventually asserted their own style on proceedings. They were content to let Germany have a lot of the ball and hit them on the break when they won it back and their pace soon began to cause problems.
Asamoah Gyan should have done better with a shot that was superbly blocked by the tireless Bastain Schweinsteiger before Kevin-Prince Boateng played in Gyan, only for the striker's touch to let him down at the crucial moment.
After Ozil rolled a tame shot at Kingson from the right-hand side of the Ghana box it was the Africans who twice went close again when Gyan's goal-bound header from a corner was cleared off the line by Philipp Lahm and then Boateng glanced across the face of goal from Andre Ayew's centre.
Germany knew raced out of the blocks after the interval, aware that Serbia and Australia were goalless at the break and a Serbia goal could send Germany out.
After Asamoah spurned a rare Ghana break into the Germany half by shooting at Manuel Neuer, Ozil produced his match-winning moment.
The gifted playmaker had endured a frustrating evening up to that point, but when the ball fell to him just outside the penalty area, he set himself up and then crashed a glorious left-footed effort past Kingson's fruitless dive.
Now Ghana had most to lose and they tried to hit back immediately as Prince Tagoe's goalbound header at the far post drew a superb block from Jerome Boateng - the German defender who was playing against his brother, Kevin, in a first for the World Cup.
Ghana continued to press and Gyan's backheel exquisitely set up Ayew only for Lahm to get in a last-ditch goal-saving challenge, and Germany eased through the closing stages without looking unduly troubled.
Even after the final whistle blew, there were some nervous moments for Ghana as they waited for the result from Nelspruit, but in the end they had done enough to secure Africa's first place in the next round.
Ghana
|
0-1 |
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FT |
| (HT 0-0) | Ozil, 60 | ||
Team |
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Ghana
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Germany
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| Substitutes:
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GermanySaturday, June 19, 2010
Harry Kewell got red cards, Australia's narrow escape opportunities
11:29 PM
Australia overcame the first-half dismissal of Harry Kewell to battle for a draw against Ghana that keeps their slim hopes of reaching the World Cup second round alive.
The Socceroos, hammered 4-0 by Germany in their opening Group D game, took an early lead through Brett Holman before Kewell was shown a straight red for a handball on the goal-line and Asamoah Gyan slotted home his second penalty of the tournament.
But an inexperienced Ghana side struggled against 10 men, showing limited imagination and resorting to shot after shot from long range.
And it was Australia who came closest to winning the match when Luke Wilkshire failed to beat Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingston when clean through on goal.
It was an impressive display from the Australians who had been lambasted by their national press after a meek opening performance and suffered the hammer blow of having a key man sent off for the second game in a row.
The Socceroos could still emulate their 2006 effort of reaching the second phase if they defeat Serbia in their final game on Wednesday, while Ghana need only a point against the Germans to advance.
While injuries to captain John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah forced Ghana to field an inexperienced centre-back pairing of Lee Addy and Jonathan Mensah, under-fire Australia coach Pim Verbeek made four changes to the side that lost to Germany with Kewell called in to lead the attack.
And the former Liverpool forward was immediately in the thick of the action, going down twice inside the area in the first 10 minutes but seeing both his penalty appeals turned down by Italian referee Roberto Rosetti.
The Socceroos had reason to thank the official shortly afterwards when he awarded the free-kick from which they took the lead.
Mark Bresciano's 30-yard strike bounced awkwardly in front of Kingston, but the goalkeeper should have done more than just parrying the ball straight in front of him. Holman reacted quickest to clip the loose ball into the top corner.
Kingston has played more international football than club football in the last four years and his sloppy work provided another page in the catalogue of goalkeeping gaffes at this World Cup.
Ghana, the only African team to win at the tournament so far, reacted with a series of pacy attacks and they did not have to wait long for their equaliser.
Andre Ayew showed great determination to work some space for himself on the byline and produce a measured cut-back to Mensah, whose powerful goalbound shot struck Kewell on the arm.
Kewell protested that the ball had hit his chest and implored the referee to watch the replay on the big screen but when the incident was shown again it entirely vindicated the decision to award a penalty and show the Australia frontman a red card.
Gyan sent Mark Schwarzer the wrong way from the spot.
Ghana initially made the most of their extra man, using the full width of the pitch to stretch the Australians, and they could have gone ahead shortly before half-time.
Portsmouth's Kevin-Prince Boateng worked his way into the box and unleashed a right-footed shot that was brilliantly tipped around the post by Schwarzer, who had to be at his best once again shortly after the break to claw away a curler from Gyan.
Ghana seemed to lose their way as the game wore on, running out of ideas and firing speculative shots from distance which were often embarrassingly off target.
The Africans' profligacy seemed to awaken Australia's senses to the possibility that they could still win the game and the Socceroos came close on two occasions.
First Chipperfield headed over the bar, and then Wilkshire found acres of space in the box, but his shot was smothered by Kingston, who was on hand to gather Josh Kennedy's follow-up effort.
But Ghana ended the game the stronger side with Mensah heading over from Sulley Muntari's cross and Schwarzer pulling off a one-handed save to keep out Quincy Owusu-Abeyie's long-range strike.
Ghana |
1-1 |
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FT |
| Gyan (pen), 25 | (HT 1-1) | Holman, 11 | |
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Team |
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Ghana
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Australia
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Substitutes:
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Australia
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